Fatigue Specialist
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Silverstein Medical
Primary Care Practice located in Havre De Grace, MD
If you find yourself constantly and excessively tired or struggling to keep your concentration or remember things, you may have a newly-discovered and little-understood disorder called chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). While CFS has no single cause and can be difficult to diagnose, it can be treated and improve over time. Visit Silverstein Medical today to learn more about the condition, and work with Louis Silverstein, MD, and his team to find the right treatment solution for you. Call the office in Havre de Grace, Maryland, today, or make an appointment online.
Fatigue
What is chronic fatigue?
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complicated disorder that causes excessive and unrelenting fatigue. This condition is still being studied, and may also be referred to as systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID) or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or by the abbreviation ME/CFS.
There’s no single known cause for CFS, but there are a number of possible causes, from viral infections to elevated stress levels. There is also no one way to diagnose CFS, and under Dr. Silverstein’s care, you may have to try several treatments to rule out other possible causes. Treatment typically focuses on relieving symptoms as opposed to treating the cause of the fatigue directly.
How do I know if I have chronic fatigue?
Everyone feels sleepy after a poor night of sleep, but chronic fatigue goes much further. Signs and symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome include:
- Fatigue
- Inability to concentrate
- Memory loss
- Sore throat
- Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or armpits
- Unexplained joint pain or muscle pain
- Headaches
- Inability to get restful sleep
- Extreme exhaustion that lasts for 24 hours or more
People with chronic fatigue feel their symptoms even after periods of sleep or rest, and they can grow worse with activity.
What causes chronic fatigue?
Some people seem to be born with a predisposition to chronic fatigue, but the exact cause of the disorder is unknown. Potential triggers include:
- Viral infections like Epstein-Barr, human herpesvirus 6, and others
- Impaired immune system function
- Hormone imbalances, especially in the hypothalamus, pituitary glands, and adrenal glands
Some people experience chronic fatigue without ever experiencing any of these other conditions.
What is the treatment for chronic fatigue?
Because so little is known about CFS, finding the right treatment may be a process. Dr. Silverstein may prescribe medications like antidepressants that can be used to help promote restful sleep and can treat the depression that often accompanies CFS. Therapy can also help, with many people showing positive results after cognitive training and a graded exercise plan to gradually increase their daily activity levels. Dr. Silverstein will work with you to find the treatment that works best for you.
If you think you may be experiencing chronic fatigue, or if you have any questions, call Silverstein Medical today or make an appointment online.
